As Pink announces her first ever Australian Stadium tour next year, Newcastle and the Gold Coast are included but Hobart isn’t.
Perhaps fittingly, plans for a Hobart waterfront stadium for the state’s AFL team and other major events has been broached by Destination Southern Tasmania today (Thursday)
As sides are split on justifying the $715 million development, CEO Alex Heroys ponders what opportunities both financially and culturally are currently being missed out on.
“We do really well on small boutique events but also we need the capacity to have those really large demand driving events as well, so you need event space that can be adapted and can change to attract small and larger events.”
Minister for Hospitality and Events, Nic Street, said that the industry is clear with what it wants.
“What we’ve heard loud and clear today is the events sector crying out for more fit-for-purpose space in Tasmania, and the arts, culture and entertainment precinct will deliver on that.”
“We continually have Tasmanian Labor talking down the growth of our events sector, and yesterday heard Federal MP Andrew Wilkie – a previous advocate for a rectangular stadium in Hobart – again talking down what will be a significant urban renewal project for our state. It’s just astonishing.”
“We are committed to Hobart being a world-class city that can deliver world-class entertainment for locals to be part of and visitors to travel here for into the future. This isn’t just about AFL and sport – it’s about our economy.”